Who We Are | Gawad Kalinga USA

ABOUT US

GK1 World Foundation dba Gawad Kalinga USA (GK USA) is a lead mission partner of the Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation, Inc. (GKCDFI) in creating a sustainable template to end poverty.

Founded in 2009, GK USA is a duly registered 501c3 corporation working independently, but in conjunction with GKCDFI, a Philippine-based non-profit movement that aims to end poverty by building caring and sharing communities. It employs an integrated and holistic approach with values formation and leadership development at its core.

Gawad Kalinga translated in English means “to give care." Its approach to attacking poverty began with building a cluster of homes in communities. Residents go through a values formation program that focuses on restoring dignity and self-worth. GK raises funds to help the marginalized build permanent homes with the latter contributing their sweat equity. GK opens access to education, more secure employment or livelihood opportunities and health and well-being.

GK USA has contributed significantly to enable GK to build over 3,000 communities across the Philippines. Such presence has placed Gawad Kalinga in a position to know the lives of the poor intimately, and offer an effective, multi-faceted solution to poverty.

Local and international government agencies, other nonprofits, academic institutions, corporations and individuals are engaged to design and implement scalable interventions rolled out through its wide volunteer network and workers, and with the help of community members themselves.

These platforms focus on the multiple solutions to alleviate poverty: shelter and land security, health and well-being, child and youth development, family productivity, and community resilience.

Programs include home-building and community development; an anti-hunger program currently feeding over 100,000 hungry children on school days; a school for social entrepreneurship as an education-based solution to rural development; community health interventions piloted and scaled with the help of local and international agencies, universities and volunteers.

Gawad Kalinga has been recognized by local and international organizations for its work, such as: Ramon Magsaysay Award (the Asian equivalent of Nobel Peace Prize), Skoll Foundation, Nikkei Asia Prizes and Conrad Hilton Humanitarian Award among others.

Prospective volunteers, fundraisers, student interns and corporate donors can get involved by reaching out to our Area Directors across the United States, listed below. GK USA is also eligible for employee matching programs and grants from institutions who share our mission and vision.

GK USA TEAM MEMBERS

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MARICEL B. VILLANUEVA

Executive Director

Maricel has served as GK USA's Executive Director since 2016 and has been a volunteer and advocate for Gawad Kalinga since GK's inception.

MHER AMANTE

Operations

Mher provides invaluable support in finance, project tracking, event management, and fundraising activities and serves as the primary liaison between Area Coordinators and the head office.

INOY FIGUEROA

Finance

Inoy keeps track of Philippine-based GK USA projects, serving as the finance liaison between US-based operations and local GK USA communities in the Philippines.

CHRISSIE SAPLALA

Digital Operations

Chrissie supports GK USA in all of its digital needs, coordinating content production, website publishing, virtual events and online community activities.